Councils activate centres

EMERGENCY Operation Centres were set up around the Western Division yesterday in response to the cyclone forecast by the weather office.

By yesterday afternoon, centres in Ra, Tavua, Ba, Lautoka, Nadarivatu, Nadi and Nadroga were set up with emergency staff from the provincial councils and other sectors of government.

Also to be activated were evacuation centres along with village halls in the various provinces.

Provincial administrators and district officers began sending out their teams by midday yesterday to check on communities in flood-prone areas and also to schools used as evacuation centres during natural disasters

Ra provincial administrator Kelepi Kubunameca said yesterday they were already in motion.

"My only concern is that people will leave it to late, so we have instructed our awareness teams to put the word out that people must prepare now," said Mr Kubunameca.

Ba district officer Sitiveni Tavaga said standby teams were activated and visited schools to be used as centres.

"One major worry for Ba is the river, so we are looking at communities living along the river because water and cyclones go together," said Mr Tavaga.

"Our teams are already out on the road today letting people know they must prepare now, we have also called around to our key points."